Tuvaluan New Zealanders Explained

Group:Tuvaluan New Zealanders
Total:4,653 (2018 Census)
Popplace:Auckland
Langs:Tuvaluan, English

The Tuvaluan New Zealand community consists of 4,653 Tuvaluans ethnic people living in New Zealand. About 46% of them were born overseas and nearly 80% of them live in Auckland.[1]

History

Due to global warming, the islands of Tuvaluan are threatened by rising sea level.[2] In response to this risk, the Tuvaluan government made an agreement in 2002 with the New Zealand which allows the migration of 11,000 Tuvaluans (the island nation's entire population).[2] The New Zealand Census indicates a higher proportion of Tuvaluans being born in Tuvalu illustrates the significance of New Zealand as a long term destination for Tuvaluan migrants.[3]

New Zealand has an annual quota of 75 Tuvaluans granted work permits under the Pacific Access Category, as announced in 2001.[4] Tuvaluans also have access to seasonal employment in the horticulture and viticulture industries in New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Policy introduced in 2007 allowing for employment of up to 5,000 workers from Tuvalu and other Pacific islands.[5]

Demographics

According to the 2006 Census, there were 2,625 Tuvaluans in New Zealand, which has grown to 3,537 Tuvaluans in 2013 and 4,653 Tuvaluan in 2018.[6]

About 88% of Tuvaluan New Zealanders are English speakers about 42% of them can speak another language, mainly Tuvaluan language.

Religion

Majority of the Tuvaluan New Zealanders follows Christianity (88%), 8% of them choose No religion in the Census.

In 1992, the Tuvalu Community Church congregation of Henderson, Auckland was established.[7] [8] In 2021, the first Tuvaluan Congregational church was opener.[9] It was designed by South Pacific Architecture, which won a Public Architecture Award at the 2021 Auckland Architecture Awards.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TUVALUAN MIGRATION STORY Pasefika Proud . 2023-11-13 . www.pasefikaproud.co.nz.
  2. Kamusella . Tom . 2004 . On the Similarity Between the Concepts of Nation and Language . Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism . 31 . 107–112.
  3. Shen, S., & Binns, T. . 2012 . Pathways, motivations and challenges: Contemporary Tuvaluan migration to New Zealand . GeoJournal . 77 . 1 . 63–82 . 10.1007/s10708-010-9386-2 . 153719793.
  4. Web site: Government announces Pacific access scheme . 2023-11-13 . The Beehive . en.
  5. Web site: Strategic Programming and Management Department (PROGRAM) . 2023-11-13 . www.ilo.org . en.
  6. Web site: 2018 Census ethnic group summaries Stats NZ . 2023-11-13 . www.stats.govt.nz.
  7. Web site: Morris . Rachel . What Happens When Your Country Drowns? . 2023-11-13 . Mother Jones . en-US.
  8. Web site: Sarah . 2021-05-28 . Tuvalu Christian Church Wins Public Architecture Award . 2023-11-13 . TP+ . en-NZ.
  9. Web site: 2020-03-02 . Tuvaluan community in Auckland welcomes new church . 2023-11-13 . RNZ . en-nz.